Thank you for inviting President Obama to recognize the 2010 Juneteenth National Holiday Observance by attending the Lincoln Park United Methodist Church's National Juneteenth Black Holocaust "Maafa" Memorial Service on June 18, 2010, and by inviting the AAJC/HBCU Student All-Star Big Band to perform at the White House.

President Obama has recognized Juneteenth as an opportunity for all Americans to celebrate the rights and freedoms we enjoy, as well as a chance to call
to mind the innumerable contributions of African Americans to our
Nation. However, the constraints of his schedule and the volume of
requests are such that the majority must be declined. It is with
sincere regret that the President will be unable to attend this year's
Juneteenth service at Lincoln Park United Methodist Church or invite
the All-Star Big Band to perform at the White House. Unfortunately, a
Presidential Proclamation will also not be possible this year.

Thank you for your interest in including the President in your plans, and we appreciate your understanding.

I read your comments concerning President Barack Obama and the criticism he has received concerning his lack of dealing with the concerns of the black community. It appears you left out President Obama's lack of personal acknowledgment of Juneteenth Independence Day and the National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign:

President Obama personally recognized Cinco de Mayo (a celebration of a historic event which took place in Mexico not America like Juneteenth) with a White House (built by Americans of African descent during the tyranny of enslavement)
ceremony in May but refused to do the same for Juneteenth.

President Obama spoke at the U..S. Capitol about the importance of remembering the Jewish Holocaust (a tragic historic event which took place in Germany) on Holocaust Remembrance Day, but refused to participate in the National Juneteenth Black Holocaust "Maafa" Memorial Service (acknowledgment of a tragic series of historic events - Middle Passage, lynching and murders before and after the Civil War, etc., which took place in America or directly related to American history) at Lincoln
Park U.M.C., in Washington, DC, during the National Day of
Reconciliation and Healing from the Legacy of Enslavement at the annual
WASHINGTON JUNETEENTH National Holiday Observance.

Myers invites President Obama to speak at the annual National Juneteenth Black Holocaust "Maafa" Memorial Servicein Washington, DC.(Letter to President Barack Obama)

President
Obama did not respond to our invitation for a performance of the
AAJC/HBCU All-star Big Band during "June is Black Music Month!" -
CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH JAZZ - "Preserving Our African American Jazz
Legacy!" at the White House but hosted an American jazz concert and
event (leaving Juneteenth Jazz out during the week of the observance of
Juneteenth in Washington, DC!).

Myers urges President Obama to support Juneteenth Jazzduring Black Music Month in June through the performance ofthe AAJC/HBCU Student All-star Big Band at the annual WASHINGTONJUNETEENTH National Holiday Observance

(Letter to President Obama)

It appears that our brother, the first African American president in U.S. history, raises serious concerns about not personally acknowledging and participating in any Juneteenth activities in Washington, DC. I pray that this will not continue in 2010.

President Obama was a
great supporter of Juneteenth as a state senator and U.S. Senator from Illinois before becoming president. As a U.S. Senator Obama was the
keynote speaker at several WASHINGTON JUNETEENTH Congressional
Receptions and presented me with a special award for efforts to bring
greater recognition of Juneteenth in congress and throughout the nation.

I
also noticed that you do not have any comments or information about
Juneteenth, the National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign, the annual
WASHINGTON JUNETEENTH National Holiday Observance, etc. on your web
site! Why do you have such a glaring omission of information,
discussion or inquiry about a true modern day African American grass
roots movement in America?

I hope that this won't continue in
the future, especially since you are considered a national spokesperson
for the African American perspective on key issues and President Barack
Obama.

Ron, I would probably do the same thing if I were trying to be the President of all the people. They want him to show bias toward members of his own race. In the present climate, he has a lot more on his plate than Juneteenth Day. Health Care Reform and jobs are a pressing issue that he has to deal with. If he is diverted into every cause some might want him to , he would never get anything done. When he became President , everything changed. He has different priorities now and faces a much tougher agenda. You and I are good friends and fellow musicians , but if I was Obama , I would probably have to make the same choice. If Obama was a close friend , I would not ask him to do things any differently. You are the one that has to realize that there are other alternatives and things you can do. One was my suggestion to have a white GOP senator take the lead in the bill ...if it comes to pass. Why are you avoiding that? They are looking for Obama to stumble and fall. Juneteenth would only cost him political capital he desperately needs.

I can only hope you would not come after me because I am black and I am your friend, if a similar situation arose. Look at your other options and do not join in vilifying Obama like the right wing does. They have their own agenda , do not give them cannon fodder. I have criticized the National Juneteenth Day Celebration in the past for it's ties to religion and Christianity. Again, that is a touchy subject that Obama can't afford to be dragged into. You are a minister, it is all well and OK to you. But to someone that must represent Muslims, Buddhists , Aethists and whomever , it can be political dynamite. I hope you will end the attacks on Obama and give the brother a break. Let one of those Dixie senators take the heat. If Obama is the only resource you have, then you should rethink your whole strategy. Dr. Watkins wants to save his butt and his column. You were doing fine before Obama became POTUS. Continue to doing what you have been doing. Having Juneteenth Day, a national holiday, will not change the realities that black folks face. Let Obama address them.

The Professor

NATIONAL JUNETEENTH HOLIDAY CAMPAIGN

Greg:

Thanks for the e-mail. However, it appears that you do not understand the direction that we are coming from as the "Modern Juneteenth Movement" in America (www.NationalJuneteenth.com).

As the leader of the movement, I have worked with 5 U.S. presidents before President Obama (Carter, Reagan, Bush, Sr., Clinton & Bush, Jr.) concerning the recognition and support of Juneteenth Independence Day in America.

I worked with Barack Obama as a Illinois state senator in support of Juneteenth becoming a state holiday observance in Illinois. Obama was
our U.S. Senate host for the annual WASHINGTON JUNETEENTH National
Holiday Observance Congressional Juneteenth Reception during the four
years he served in congress. Sen. Barack Obama, before becoming
President Barack Obama, was a strong supporter of Juneteenth.

Since
becoming President of the United States (for all Americans, African
Americans, Jewish Americans, Hispanic Americans, Gay & Lesbian
Americans, etc.) he has recognized Cinco de Mayo (a Hispanic Mexican
American holiday celebrating a historic event in Mexico, at the White
House), the Jewish Holocaust (a Jewish American tragic historic event
that took place in Germany by speaking at the U.S. Capitol during
Holocaust Remembrance Day, a National Day of Observance in April),
issued a Presidential Proclamation for Gay & Lesbian Month
(observed during the month of June, like Juneteenth Independence Day,
where President Obama has again refused to issue a proclamation or
recognize with a celebration at the White House, built by Americans of
African descent during the tyranny of enslavement, along with the U.S.
Capitol), and other examples, like Obama's personal recognition of
other ethnic American days, including St. Patrick's Day (for Irish
Americans), etc.

So, unless I am a Hispanic, Mexican, Irish or
Jewish American, etc., I should not expect recognition as an African American for the oldest African American freedom celebration, a day
recognized by 36 states, including Obama's home state of Hawaii and his
resident state of Illinois and the District of Columbia, the U.S.
Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives as Juneteenth Independence
Day, from 1996 through 2009, by several congressional Juneteenth
Independence Day resolutions, co-sponsored and unanimously passed by
Republican (conservative and moderate), Democrat (liberal, conservative
and moderate, including Senator Barack Obama) and Independent members
of congress, by the first African American president in U.S. history,
or to recognize and participate in "June Is Black Music Month!" -
CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH JAZZ - "Preserving Our African American Jazz
Legacy!" by supporting a concert for the AAJC/HBCU Student All-star Big
Band in at the White House, I HAD BETTER CHANGE MY ETHNICITY TO
ANYTHING BUT AN AMERICAN OF AFRICAN DESCENT IF I AM GOING TO RECEIVE
PERSONAL RECOGNITION FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE
CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM DURING JUNETEENTH INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Perhaps
the "4th of July," where Americans of African descent were slaves,
would be a good time to celebrate freedom from enslavement in America.
However, one big problem is that during the "4th of July," 1776, and
for over 88 years following, Americans of African descent were slaves.
George Washington was a slave owner, Thomas Jefferson was a slave
owner, etc. Perhaps Cinco de Mayo or St. Patrick's Day, etc., all
personally acknowledged by the very, very busy President of the United
States, who took time to do so during the heat of the health care
reform legislation battle this week, but when it comes to personal
recognition of Juneteenth, President Obama has other more pressing
issues to deal with, like health care reform, the economy, etc., and
does not have the time because of his very busy schedule. Now, it all
makes since, or does it really?

Perhaps, based on his actions, President Obama, "Yes we can," now believes in the new saying "No we can't":

If you're an American and celebrate freedom on the "4th of July,"YOU'RE ALRIGHT!

If you're a Mexican American and celebrate freedom on Cinco de Mayo,STICK AROUND!

Where did you stand when President Obama hosted events at the White House and the US Capital observing Jewish American Holocaust, Hispanic Americans, Gay and Lesbian American, etc.

To you it was important for these ceremonies, but when our African ancestors were forced into 400 years of slavery in the US, you don't find that a real issue? You don't find millions of people who were murdered, raped, lynched, forced into slave labor without pay, burning and whipping a issue?

It's apparent that your eyes are not on the prize. What other race of people suffered as much as the African American. Where is your conscious?

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Spread the word! The Legacy Continues! Coming to a City Near You! Revolutionizing Jazz with New Sounds!! The Wallace Roney Group fresh off tour with sold out performances in Vienna, Tbilisi Georgia, Germany, Switzerland, Amsterdam, Cape Town & Johannesburgh South Africa, Atlanta GA, Williamstown College and Scullers Jazz Club Boston Mass.

George, thank you and thank GOD for blessing you with insight to create WDCJN! The Network has been my connection to the greatest Jazz Legends alive today and Emerging Jazz Icons. Many of whom I've met and collaborated with over the last 3 yrs after our introduction. Its a Wonderful thing when Creativity collides with History, Experience and Cosmic Energy and that's exactly the vortex you've created with the WDCJN. Keep letting your light Shine Brother,......... Keep letting it SHINE~~~Lou

I strongly believe that technology is here to help the art form, not to overwhelm it, but tragically, with a very few, each day more and more scarce exceptions, the invention of the microphone, that is credited to the German Emile Berliner in 1876

Jimmy HeathDiz to Today
By Dan OuelletteThe amiable 90-year-old saxophonist, educator, NEA Jazz Master, big band leader and elder statesman in the Heath Brothers group is optimistic about the future of jazz as he keeps “the continuum” going.

Benny Sharoni, an Israeli-born, Boston-based tenor saxophonist, can energize even the largest, most lackluster venue with his big-toned sound and ebullient phrasing, packed with intense emotion and spirituality, a vibrant hybrid of the hip and the holy."

Using as a model a pocket watch he had borrowed from a merchant or traveler, Banneker carved wooden replicas of each piece and used the parts to make a clock that struck hourly. He completed the clock in 1753, at the age of 21. Due to its precision (it struck every hour, on the hour, and continued to do so nearly forty years) the clock brought fame to young Banneker. Thus he began a watch and clock repair business. The clock continued to work until his death.Read more....

Put it this way: Jazz is a good barometer of freedom… In its beginnings, the United States of America spawned certain ideals of freedom and independence through which, eventually, jazz was evolved, and the music is so free that many people say it is the only unhampered, unhindered expression of complete freedom yet produced in this country.~~~Duke Ellington

W.D.C.J.N. is one of the first American Jazz Networks to embrace the remaining truly great Jazz legends of our times and upcoming Jazz greats through today’s social media.

The W.D.C.J.N. is now internationally reaching Jazz musician, enthusiasts and aficionados, promoters, festivals of Jazz around the world. A real eye opener for people researching the history and present day development an evolution of America’s only original art form and historical legacy.

I fully endorse this institution "The Washington DC Jazz Network" and encourage anyone that is fond of Jazz to visit the Washington D.C. Jazz Network; today and become a member or make a donation to a worthy cause.

Hello George, I am proud to be a member of the Washington DC Jazz Network (WDJN).
I am able to find out what's going on in town and on the east coast
and to network with other musicians. I get a lot of my news from the emails I receive from WJN.
I also would like to thank you for supporting the Jazz
program at Howard University in Washington, DC. Keep up the great work.~~~FRED IRBY

The guest soloist will be saxophonist Javon Jackson. Mr. Jackson is a veteran of the bands of Art Blakey, Freddie Hubbard, Elvin Jones and Les McCann. There will also be a performance by AFRO BLUE, the award winning vocal jazz ensemble.

Critics have their purposes, and they're supposed to do what they do, but sometimes they get a little carried away with what they think someone should have done, rather than concerning themselves with what they did~~~Duke Ellington

W.D.C.J.N. is one of the first American Jazz Networks to embrace the remaining truly great Jazz legends of our times and upcoming Jazz great through today’s social media.

The W.D.C.J.N. is now internationally reaching Jazz musician, enthusiasts and aficionados, promoters, festivals of Jazz around the world. A real eye opener for people researching the history and present day development an evolution of America’s only original art form and historical legacy.

I fully endorse this institution and encourage anyone that is fond of Jazz to visit the Washington D.C. Jazz Network; today and become a member or make a donation to a worthy cause.

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